Coordinative Optimization Between Multiple Data Center Operators and a System Operator Based on Two-Level Distributed Scheduling Algorithm

Data centers (DCs) have been playing a significant role in demand response (DR) programs in recent years due to their considerable DR capability. DCs are in the charge of the DC operator (DCO), who is responsible for making a reasonable allocation of computing tasks to provide DR resources. To relieve the transmission pressure of power systems, the system operator (SO) encourages DCOs to participate in the DR programs. To maximize the total welfare, a detailed DR scheduling model of DCOs and SO is proposed for the coordinative optimization. Considering the privacy issue of DCOs, a two-level distributed scheduling algorithm based on the alternating direction multiplier method (ADMM) is designed for privacy protection and distributed autonomy. Simulation results show that the proposed coordinative optimization algorithm can effectively realize the maximization of total social welfare with data privacy protection. For a power system with multiple DCOs, reasonable scheduling of DCO’s DR resources can reduce the peak-valley difference of system loads reliably and economically.